South Korean shipping and logistics major HMM Co. Ltd has announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with compatriot oil refiner and fuel producer GS Caltex to secure marine biofuels.
According to a statement, HMM also plans to conduct the trial use of the fuels on its three 24 000 twenty-foot equivalent (container) units (TEU) containerships in the second half of this year.
The marine biofuels comprise 30 percent marine biodiesel derived from used cooking oil (UCO) and 70 percent high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO). Marine biodiesel is estimated to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 80 percent compared to conventional fuels.
The first test was completed in 2021
Biofuels have the merit of being compatible with current ship engines without technological modification.
In 2021, HMM performed the first test voyage using biofuels on its 13 100 TEU
containership.
The vessel HMM Dream, deployed in EC1 (East Coast 1) service connecting Asia and the US East Coast, successfully completed the voyage in the Pacific Ocean.
Based on this MoU, we expect to generate less greenhouse gas emissions and thereby contribute to limiting climate change. We will continue to enhance our environmental competence by accelerating R&D activities, said Jinki Park, SEVP of HMM.
